Tom Goldstein, once a prominent attorney before the U.S. Supreme Court, entered a plea of not guilty on federal charges that he failed to report millions of dollars in poker winnings and used his former law firm’s funds to cover gambling debts. The charges, filed earlier this month in a Maryland federal court, include 22 counts of tax evasion, preparing fraudulent tax returns, and failing to pay taxes, among others.
In a court appearance on Monday, Goldstein’s attorneys announced that, as part of his pretrial conditions, he has agreed to abstain from gambling or poker activities. “Mr. Goldstein will vigorously defend against these charges, and we look forward to his exoneration,” said his defense team.
Federal prosecutors claim that Goldstein borrowed significant sums to fund poker games, concealed gambling income, and funneled law firm money from his former practice, Goldstein & Russell, to pay off gambling debts. Furthermore, prosecutors allege that he created fake job arrangements for several women with whom he was romantically involved, funneling firm money for their purported salaries and benefits despite them performing no work.
Goldstein, who represented Al Gore in the 2000 U.S. presidential election legal battles and has since handled high-profile cases like Epic Games’ legal battles with Apple and Google, has enlisted a powerhouse legal team for his defense. John Lauro, a prominent figure in defending former President Donald Trump in major cases, and Christopher Kise, who previously represented Trump in several legal matters, are leading Goldstein’s defense.
Goldstein, who announced his retirement from legal practice in 2023, now faces a fierce legal battle to clear his name amidst a growing list of serious charges.
